6 Tips on How to Switch Propane Companies

Know Your Info—Save Some Money in the New Year by Switching Propane Providers

Read our 6 tips on how to switch propane companies and save money with Star Gas Products, Inc.
Whether you are a home or business, there are plenty of reasons to switch gas companies, service and pricing are among just a few. Become an informed consumer by knowing your account information. You might discover a new company with comparable pricing (and even better service)! A simple call to your current gas company will help you begin.

What You Need To Know To Switch Gas Companies

Find out:

1. If you own, rent, or borrow your propane tank

Own—you may need to provide proof of ownership to switch
Rent—if you end your rental agreement with your original company, you may pay a termination fee to switch.
Borrow—if your current gas company owns your tank, the new company will work out a swap/pickup plan with the old company. This is easiest when the tank is close to empty.

2. Your delivery method: automatic or will-call

Automatic delivery—A reliable, predictable choice for most customers. The propane company calculates and schedules gas deliveries based on your yearly use. This is a good way of managing monthly payments. This account does not cost anything to have but the customer must fill out a form in order to activate the account. A small price to pay to know that someone else takes care of the details.
Will Call—Are you willing to take a risk and run out of gas? The customer has control over when deliveries occur; they call the office to schedule. These types of accounts are usually for part-time occupants. There’s a higher likelihood of running out of gas if you cannot judge how fast you’ll use it on cold days or holidays. Also, if you call for a last minute delivery, you’ll be charged extra.

3. Your propane use for the year

Find out what your annual gas usage is in gallons. Cooking-only accounts use the least amount of gas and typically cost the most per gallon. If you have multiple gas appliances and use over a certain number of gallons, you may pay less per gallon.

At Star Gas Products Inc., we have a pricing schedule based on the number of gallons you use. We also offer special pre-buy pricing options for customers who are: 1) on automatic delivery, 2) have been a customer for at least one year, and 3) use over 700 gallons per year.

4. Your current propane price

Cheap propane prices don’t always equal the best propane supplier. Are you happy with your current gas price? What did you pay last winter for gas? Did it fluctuate a lot, or just a little? Do you receive good service?

5. About the latest deal from customer service representative/salesperson.

Call the new gas company and explain that you’re considering switching.
Pricing, specials, payment plans, maintenance options, and estimate costs can be given to you over the phone. Ask how often deliveries are in your area. If you leave a message, make note of how quickly you get a response. All of these details can help you make the decision to keep or change companies.

6. About fees

Ask about fees you should expect with switching companies. Do they seem fair?
New company—are there delivery fees on top of the price per gallon? Installation fees? Tank rental fees?
Old Company—is there a better time of year to switch? Will they charge you to pick up their tank or break your rental agreement

Contact us, we’ll get you information and help you switch! 845-452-8400

 

14 replies
  1. Joseph Garcia
    Joseph Garcia says:

    I am planning to switch to a new gas company for my home. I would like to get more information on this. Please email me. Thank you

    • Star Gas Products CSR
      Star Gas Products CSR says:

      Hi, Joseph – sorry for the late reply. We’ve been very busy with wrapping up the winter season. Are you in the Hudson Valley of New York? We can definitely assist if this is the case. Please advise.

  2. Yilliang Peng
    Yilliang Peng says:

    Thanks for the help on how to switch propane gas providers! My wife and I are thinking about switching companies because our bill has been getting higher and higher every since this last year. With that being said, we need to find a company that will deliver for us, hopefully for free. Thanks again!

    • Star Gas Products Customer Service Rep
      Star Gas Products Customer Service Rep says:

      All our customers are concerned about cost, so we understand and try to offer a few options. In our area (the Hudson Valley of New York state), it’s typical to pay a delivery fee for each delivery. Ask your local company to see if they can make fewer deliveries. April is our time to arrange pre-buys with customers, so ask your local company about this. One may pay up front for the gas, but it will get you the best price per gallon. Good luck and thanks for your comment!

  3. Mark Finch
    Mark Finch says:

    Thank you for your tips on how to switch propane companies. I like how you talked about the delivery method. It’s great to know that the propane delivery company I choose will calculate my usage and schedule the delivery based on my yearly usage. This is really convenient for me as I have no idea on how to come up with an estimate of my usage. It’s comforting to know that the propane company I choose will work out the details for me. I guess I’ll have to talk to them if I want to know more about the frequency of the delivery.

    • Star Gas Products CSR
      Star Gas Products CSR says:

      Mark, thanks for your comments. Educated customers make the best decisions, which is why we posted this topic. Many customers try to save money by having “will call” accounts (controlling when their own deliveries). This backfires with extra trip charges or after-hours fees when they run out of propane. If you’re on auto-delivery and you run out, it’s our job to get you propane. Our office spends time looking at annual usage & makes calculations on the weather & temperature. It’s most efficient (and cheaper) to get a delivery when the route driver is in your neighborhood. Last winter, we had a few back-to-back snowstorms here in NY and the will-call customers were upset because they ran out of gas. We try to accommodate everyone.

  4. Ashley Maxwell
    Ashley Maxwell says:

    Thanks for your comment about how you should choose a propane company that will reflect how much gas you use annually. I like how you said that this will also affect the amount that you pay. My husband is considering getting a propane company in this new city that we moved to, and we are looking into ones that best suit our needs.

    • Star Gas Products CSR
      Star Gas Products CSR says:

      Ashley, it certainly pays to do your homework. A good company is not just about price per gallon but also tank rental fees, contract fees, and of course, service. The best deal is to get a free auto-delivery account and monitor your bill. Best of luck with your search, we’re sure you’ll find a reliable, honest company in your area.

  5. Callum Palmer
    Callum Palmer says:

    It really is important to follow the article’s advice and look at extra fees when you’re planning to switch propane companies. After all, there may be extra installation or rental fees that might make you second-guess any particular company. You want to make sure that you are completely okay with the amount of money you’ll need to spend when choosing a new propane company.

  6. Derek Dewitt
    Derek Dewitt says:

    My wife and I just moved into a home with a central heating unit that uses propane, so we are looking for a delivery service to bring it to us. I like that you mention how automatic delivery is a great way to manage monthly payments. We’ll have to find a company that we can set this up with so we don’t forget to make a payment. Thanks for sharing!

  7. Ashley Turns
    Ashley Turns says:

    Since my husband and I have just bought a house that uses propane for energy, so we are wondering how to find the best company to supply it for us. So I appreciate you letting us know that an automatic delivery will make it easier for us to manage monthly payments. We will definitely have to start our search for a propane service by looking for those that offer automatic delivery.

    • Star Gas Products CSR
      Star Gas Products CSR says:

      Ashley, glad to hear this was a help. Also ask the company if there is “pre-buy” pricing. If you’re a shopper, this can be a good deal. Sometimes a homeowner can save money by pre-paying for gas in the spring for the following winter. There’s usually a minimum number of gallons. Good luck with your search!

  8. Star Gas Products CSR
    Star Gas Products CSR says:

    Thanks for your kind words. We know we’re not perfect, but we try! An educated consumer can make better choices if they know what to look for. If you can think of another topic we can cover, let us know. Have a great day!

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